Apr 01 09:17:17 107 PA - Boxing Fundamentals
From Chronicles
Logfile from Rifts.
The current game time is: Sat Apr 01 09:17:17 107 PA.
Kingsdale - Harry's Gym
Harry's Gym is, not surprisingly, owned by a retired athlete named Harry. 'Gym' in this case is actually a misnomer and 'Sports Facility' would be far more appropriate. Almost a whole block in size it features all sorts of different facilities for those who are interested in such things. They include a full size basket ball court and weight lifting room but the real showpieces of the facility are its huge pool and sparring rooms. Inside, the construction is extremely spartan with blue-painted cinder-block walls and old, faded red carpets on the floor. Near to the entrance there are seperate men and women's changing rooms with MDC-reinforced lockers. These rooms lead deeper into the facility and are kept very clean despite the large amount of people coming and going. Admission to Harry's is a surprisingly inexpensive twenty credits per month. On the other hand, there is no day pass.
Players- Objects- Exits- Erica <O> Out
<1> Sparring Room
<2> Pool
Having agreed upon the subject that Sage can help Erica on, she waits for her pupil to show up having arrived early to claim a spot around the boxing equipment within the sparring area for those that need to wait. Fortunately, the only necessary equipment is already provided within the area. She limbers up some as she waits.
Erica shows up right on time. She is dressed in her gym clothes, grey shirt and shorts, as she walks up to Sage. She smiles warmly at the other woman as she arrives. She dumps her gym bag on the floor as she starts limbering up herself, working on stretching a bit. "So what are we going to work on first?"
As Sage spies her pupil approaching, a smile takes her lips. "The fundamentals, naturally." She replies with a faintly teasing tone, as she continues her stretching out. She is similarly attired to the other woman. "We'll walk through the basics first... then we'll go into the drills that should have your arms feeling like lead weights by the time we're done." She comments, "Let me know when you're limbered up."
Erica grins and giggles a little bit as she keeps working on stretching her muscles. "Well that sounds like it will make me sore in the morning but that is ok." She says with a little smirk as she finally finishes limbering up and hobs up and down as a final little stretch. She walks up in front of Sage and tilts her head to listen. "All done."
Having finished up her stretches first, Sage fetches a part of boxing gloves and comes over to watch Erica finish up her own stretching before tossing her the gloves. "Here, put these on." She comments, "As I mentioned when you were training me to use knives... boxing is all about the arms and footwork. Its intended to be a clean sport... but, that's because its a sport instead of actual combat. But, just like combat, you're trying to figure out the enemy's weak points and exploit them... either with a big punch or a good combination of punches."
Erica catches the gloves in her hands and pulls them on inexpertly. It takes her a few minutes to tie them up and make sure they are comfortable on her hands. She nods her head as she listens to Sage. She holds up her gloved hands to make sure she got them on right. "Oh ok so not as dirty as real combat then?"
Letting the other woman figure out how to adjust the gloves, Sage seems content to wait that short period. "And, normally you'll have your hand taped up, mainly around your knuckles but we probably wont be working the heavy bag enough today to make it worthwhile today." She comments, before nodding faintly as she comes up to double check the gloves and make any adjustments necessary. "Right..." She comments, before she uses hand to gesture to the front part of the woman's torso and head area, "These are the areas that are considered acceptable. Nothing below the belt... not that that area matters as much to us... no kidney or rabbit punches... and should shouldn't really get a chance to punch someone in the back of the head so that isn't really an issue." She comments. "Now, put up your hands as if you were going to defend against me."
Erica looks down at her body as the other woman gestures to it and she nods her head slowly as she makes a mental note of where she can hit. "Ah ok. I take it there are no use of legs or knees then?" She asks as she moves into a standard defensive stanace with her feet apart and staggered. Her gloved hands are also stagered held up in front of her head but her right hand out in front.
A shake of the head comes to the question, but Sage smiles a little nonetheless. "No, this is a sport of striking with the hands only. Yet, there are strategies even within these narrow confines." She comments, before considering the other woman's defensive stance. "Now, due to your height, you'll likely have to protect your head the most as you'll likely have to close in tight with the opponent to exchange blows... while a taller person with longer reach will try to keep you at a distance and punish you as you try to come in... it can come down to a battle of wills." She comments, before she considers the woman's arms. "Now, the positioning of the arms is important because there are two punches that can really take advantage of a tendency one way or the other... the jab and the hook." She extends her arm through the middle of your arms, "Too far apart and you can end up eating a fist up the middle." She comments before removing her hand and bring her arm around in a hooking motion. "Too close and you get someone punching around your defense."
Erica nods her head slowly as she watches Sage demonstrate defense with some punches. She adjust her hands and arms so that they are held up and better protect her head and face. "Like this?" She asks after having adjusted her defense a little bit. She looks up to see if Sage approves. "Yes being short has advantages and disadvantages. Not having a long reach is a disadvantage that is for sure." She says with a little grin.
When the other woman begins to adjust the defense, Sage takes a moment to aid with her hands. "You won't even be able to keep your hands stationary for long, so we will get into how to better defend against punches in time... but something like this will be a good guideline for later." She comments, "Now, there's one way to make an opponent want to drop his or her gloves a little bit. She gives a quick grin, before making pretend punches down towards the woman's midsection. "Work 'em over down here enough and it'll pain them enough that they wont want you hitting there anymore." She comments. "Now, for the close up stuff..." She comments, as steps in rather close to Erica.
Erica moves her hands down instinctively at the pretend punches to her midsection. She nods and returns Sage's grin with a grin of her own. "Ok hit the mid section since it most likely won't be protected." She says half way to herself as she tries to remember. She looks up and giggles softly as Sage steps in closer to her. "Can you throw elbows in this sport?"
"Yes, the midsection will help you wear down your opponent and make him want to cheat... and once he begins to cheat his arms down, it will make it easier to score hits to the head... and win the fight for you." She comments, before giving a faint look of amusement. "No, no elbows either." She uses her hands to tap your gloves. "If they aren't in gloves, you can't use them to hit your opponent." She comments, "Now then, up close is where you can really unleash one of the most powerful punches... the uppercut." She comments, before demonstrating the motion of the punch. "Its basically decided to catch the opponent's chin. It can be one of the best ways to get a knock out... but don't disrespect the jab or the hook since an experienced boxer can knock you out with any of them." She comments, "And, now, my pupil... tell me why I would do this to you in a fight." She says before she uses her arms to pull you close and presses her upper body against you and places her head over your shoulder.
Erica nods her head again while listening. She taps her gloves against Sage's as she grins slightly. "Oh ok the uppercut. Yah that would hurt I bet." She mentions as she practices the movement her self slowly to try to get a feel for it. As Sage moves in to pull Erica closer she giggles again. "Is it because you want to give me a hug so I don't know what is going on? Or perhaps to take a quick nap on my shoulder?" She says playfully before giving her shoulders a slight shrug. "I'm not sure."
"Yes, if you've heard the expression glass jaw... the uppercut and the jab are the ones to take advantage of that." Sage comments before she continues to hold Erica to her. "Mmm... not exactly, but part marks... I could be tired and want to rest, yes... I may have been hurt and want to make sure you can't do any damage... and, you can't really do much except try to punch at my sides." She comments before releasing the other woman. "We'll get to the fundamentals of moving around and protecting yourself in a little bit... it is time for your first drill." She comments before motioning the other woman to follow her over towards the small punching bag that hangs about head level.
Erica gnaws on her lower lip as she considers Sage's words. "Right and those side jabs don't seem like they would have much power." She says with a slight nod of her head. "Ok sounds good." She says as she follows Sage over to the small punching bag. She grins slightly as she reaches out and gives the bag a quick inexpert jab.
"Not much, but when someone has you in the clinch, the referee will usually break it up rather than have a long period of time with just two people hugging each other." Sage comments with a hint of humour near the end of the comment. She nods faintly, before giving a faintly amused look. "Now then... that wasn't bad, but let me show you the object of the bag first..." She comments, "Its all about rythym, timing and speed." She comments, as she begins to use both hands in a circular kind of punch to make the bag seem to be constantly punched back with a noisy rythym. "The hardest thing will be the timing and the coordination to keep hitting the bag as it comes back... it'll take some time." She comments before letting the bag settle back in place. "Want to have a try?"
Erica grins and she giggles a bit. "I guess I'll have to get used to the idea of there being a referee in a fight." She says with a slight shake of her head. "Sure let me give it a try." She says as she moves her hands up and tries to imitate Sage's circular motion. She hits the bag a couple times before her rhythm is interupted and she has to start again. "Huh this is a little harder then it looks." She mentions as she trips up again on the motion and has to start over yet again.
A smile comes to Sage's lips as she watches the other woman try to hit the bag in a repetitive motion. She walks around to come around behind the other woman. "Here..." She comments, reach out to take the other woman's arms at about the wrist. "You'll want to start slow since you aren't used to this..." She says, before urging the other woman's arms to follow her use of them. "Just watch the bag... you'll want to hit it so that you can predict where it'll be... straight back and it'll come straight towards you again... the speed will come."
Erica moves slower as Sage helps guide her arms and hands. She nods her head as she tries to get used to the movement as she hits the bag. She watches the bag trying to anticipate the movement as she hits the bag again and again. "Yah I think I get it. Have to keep up timing. Will take a while to get used to it I think." She mentions while tapping the bag again.
"I'll want you to practice with this bag some before we end up meeting again." Sage comments as she lets the other woman develop her sense of timing without her continued aiding. She steps back with a smile as the other woman seems to be catching on. "In time, you'll be able to do it rather fast and it'll sound almost like shooting an automatic weapon in a way." She comments, as she watches the other woman go through the motions a bit.
Erica nods her head as she becomes a little better with her timing and starts speeding up a little bit. "Yah ok I think I can do that.I'll add it to my exercise rotinue." She mentions while her eyes keep their focus on the swinging bag. "Yes I can hear. I hope I can get up to a good speed." She mentions as she doesn't look away.
A soft chuckle comes from Sage, "Aye, it is noisy even when its slow." She comments with a light tone before nodding to herself. "Alright, that's good enough for the moment... you seem to be getting the hang of it." She comments before she moves to another small bag. This time, its attached to a springy rope on both ends of it. "Come over to this bag now... this is the other fun one." She comments with a grin. "Take a jab at it and then I'll explain the drill." she comments, figuring letting the other woman see how it springs back as if it were an attacker will give the woman a slight taste for the skill of this drill as well.
Erica walks over to the next bag that Sage is at. She looks at the bag and nods her head slowly at it. "Hmmm interesting." She says while giving the bag a quick jab and watches it bounce back and forth. "Interesting." She mentions as she turns her head to Sage to listen to how the drill is supposed to go.
A mischievous disappointment comes when Sage notices the woman doesn't get in danger of being hit by the bag, but she lets the expression pass quickly enough. "Alright, this one can simulate like you're going against an opponent." She comments, "Albeit, a predictable one." She comments, before she moves in to punch the bag a couple times. "But it isn't about just hitting, you practice moving... like if you hit it hard." She obliges and the bag more violently bounces back and forth and she uses her body movement and feet to get out of the way. "Hit it any way you like and it'll give you a good little work out of practicing when you hit and when you might be better off moving. Boxing is all about movement, after all."
Erica watches the bag bounce back and forth as Sage hits it. She watches the movement of the bag as she nods her head slightly. "So should I like move around in a circle around it when I hit it?" She asks as she shuffles around the bag to demostrate her circular movements. "So should I just hit it with jabs?" She asks while practicing a quick jab of her fist.
Sage purses her lips before shaking her head, "No, practice your lateral movements... moving the body..." She demonstrates a couple techniques that could be used to try to avoid a punch or minimize its impact. "And head movement too if you want to crouch enough so that she bag seems like it coming at your head." She moves her head from side to side as she might if she were trying to keep her head a hard target to hit. "Harder you are to hit, the more your opponent might get frustrated and make a mistake."
Erica watches Sage's movements with a close eye as she crouchs herself. She practices moving her head side to side like Sage is doing. She tries throwing a couple jabs in the air as she moves her head back and forth. Trying to get used to all the movements at once. "Like this?" She asks as she shuffles along with the side to side movements of her head.
Taking a moment to watch the other woman, Sage purses her lips. "Let's just keep it pretty simple to start with." She comments, "Get in close enough to the bag so that it has a chance to hit you on a good punch rebound... mix it up a little bit, move your head out of the way, try to punch it back , move your body out of the way... but once you get better, you'll be able to throw more punches than getting out of the way."
Erica moves in closer to the bag like she is instructed to and looks at the bag before she gives it a hard jab making it bounce quite a bit. She tries to move to the side to avoid the bag, but isn't fast enough and the bag hits her making her grunt a little bit. She giggles a bit as she tries to move in and throws another jab and tis time manages to get out of the way.
"Its all about timing and rythym... you can do all the dancing and move around that you want, but if its at the wrong time... it'll get you in trouble more than it'll help." Sage comments, "We'll get to a drill next time that will help a bit more with that." She comments before chuckling softly at the other woman getting knocked. "And getting hit by a bag is nicer than someone trying to knock your block off too... the bag might win initially, but you'll win in the long run."
Erica giggles and nods her head. "Yes I am sure the bag is a lot nicer then a powerful fist." She says with a slight smile as she tries again jabbing at the bag a little harder and then she manages to duck mostly out of the way, only catching a little of the bag on her body. "Hmmm I think I'll get it. Just will take a lot of practice." She mentions as she jabs again, this time able to get out of the way.
Watching the other woman experiment with the bag and getting out of the way, Sage can't help but smile some as the other woman begins to do better bit by bit. "Alright, now add a little movement like you're actually fighting it. Quick hops and steps ... move around a bit.. and try to hit the bag as it rebounds towards where you were.." She comments, "These drills are bit tricky at first... but you'll get them."
Erica starts hopping a little up and down on the balls of her feet as she tries to move about while jabbing the bag. It takes her a few tries to get used to the additional movement but after a few jabs she is managing to hit the bag on the rebound as she hobs and moves. "I think I'm at least getting a bit of it." She mentions as she hits the bag with another punch.
"Alright, it looks like you're making some progress there... we'll work some on the movement in our next meeting, but I just wanted you to start working with these drills because they help develop those sense that you might not get in other kinds of fighting." Sage comments before nodding faintly. "Alright... time to wear those arms of your's out..." She comments with a light teasing tone as she moves over to the heavy bag. "Show me those jabs and hooks." She comments as she moves to hold onto the bag.
Erica nods her head as she keeps trying to work on the drill. "Yes I'll keep working on these. They are a pretty good work out if nothing else. I think this will really help with my combat work." She says with a slight smile as she nods to Sage. She walks over the the big heavy bag and studies it for a moment. She starts throwing jabs and hooks at the bag. Her punches are a little clumsy at first not yet used to the gloves but her stikes are powerful.
"Yes, I'm sure you'll be able to take things from this to add to your prowess." Sage replies with a slight nod to the other woman and gives a small smile. Once the work on the heavy bag begins, she gives encouraging words and gives little pointers. Eventually when she notices the other woman's efforts diminishing, she calls an end to this session.
Erica is breathing a little heavily by the end of the session and she nods her head as she grabs her bottle of water and sips on it. She picks up her towel and wipes off some of the sweat from her brow. "Thank you for taking the time to teach me Sage. You are a good teacher." She says with a soft smile as she tugs off the gloves.
